The Binghamton Zombie Apocalypse

In case of a zombie apocalypse in upstate NY, I now know where to go.

Tonight, Binghamton held its third annual Zombie walk.

The zombies helpfully posed for a group photo.

A couple of zombie bellydancers entertained the crowd.  This one danced (slowly, of course) with a sword on top of her head. (Sorry, this picture came out rather blurry.)

A gowned zombie looked on, fake blood glistening on her gown.


Someone calling himself "The Undertaker"and dressed in a steampunk type costume with tophat told the zombies he would be their leader and that they were to refrain from eating the living for tonight only.

The zombies were to visit various venues open for First Friday in downtown Binghamton. Their first stop was to be Phelps Mansion, a mansion built in 1870, now on the edge of downtown.  Some of the everyday people who walk the streets near Phelps Mansion are scarier than any zombie you will ever meet.

My spouse and I hurried to the mansion ahead of the shambling, screaming crowd.  (I will blog more about Phelps Mansion, which has a Civil War connection, another time.) While we waited for the zombies to arrive, we spoke to the staff.

(Interior of Phelps Mansion, courtesy of AM)

Not only did the staff not know the zombies were intending to visit, they didn't know what zombies were.

"They are the undead", I explained helpfully.  "They eat people."

"How disgusting!" a staff member responded

As the zombies arrived, the staff told them they couldn't enter, so they milled around a couple of minutes and then left.  Indeed, if the Zombie Apocalypse comes, Phelps Mansion should be the safest place in the Southern Tier of NY.

"I'm not impressed", a young woman remarked to me.  "You should see the zombie walk in the West Village!"

Well, maybe one day I will.  But at least Binghamton is trying.   And in case of a zombie apocalypse, remember - you don't want to be in a large city.  Trust me on this.

Farmers Markets and a Peaceful Labor Day Weekend in Binghamton, NY

Today we visited the Vestal, NY farmers market and were treated to a surprise:  ice cream!  It was the market's 30th birthday and they celebrated with bathroom size cups of vanilla ice cream (local dairy) with your choice of local honey, local maple syrup or local granola.  Yum!  Thank you!

Yesterday, in downtown Binghamton at the Farmers Market, it was the last Brown Bag Friday concert of the season.  I leaned against a wall and listened to the Energee Jazz Trio.  There was a very strong smell of onions in the air, while shoppers browsed the booths selling sweet corn, onions, garlic, shallots, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplants (I don't think I've ever seen such big eggplants in our markets before), tomatoes, cucumbers, summer and winter squash, grapes, blueberries, potatoes, cabbage, Gala and Ginger Gold apples, Pennsylvania peaches/cantaloupes, watermelons, baked goods and local honey.  A breeze blew.  It was only in the 60's.  The coolness of the breeze whispered that fall would soon be here.  Next week, the crowds of noontime shoppers at the market won't be as big without the music, and the market will begin its slow slide into the fall season.  The summer crops will disappear soon and winter squash, honey, onions, garlic, apples, pears and grapes will rule.

Friday night was First Friday in downtown Binghamton.  On the Peacemaker's Stage by our downtown River Trail, the Binghamton Philharmonic Brass played.  One thing you will not readily note from this picture is that the entire building to the right is vacant.  I hate to sound that sour note, but Binghamton still has a long way to go to be truly vibrant once again.  The River Trail, and these concerts, though, are a good start.

This is the first concert of a series.  First Friday has already been successful in drawing people to downtown on Friday night and I hope the other concerts (without First Friday) will be a draw, too.

Why the "Peacemaker's Stage"? To the side is a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A few blocks away an old van was parked, decorated in what one could call neo-hippie.

Nearby, an a capella group from Binghamton University sang.  I am sorry that I did not catch the name.  They started out with an energetic "Fat Bottomed Girls" made famous by Queen.

Today, it turned hot and sticky, and we are running our air conditioners. (Rare for September here!) But for now, I will sleep dreaming of the sweet corn I ate tonight (from the Vestal market) and the bounty of the summer, and how lucky we are here in Binghamton to have escaped the worst of Irene.